AFRC commissions artist to document heroism

by Senior Master Sgt Minnie Jones
433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/18/2013 - Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas -- Maj. Warren Neary, an Individual Mobilization Augmentee historian, was commissioned by the Air Force Reserve Command's History Office to paint scenes of Air Force Airman who were recognized during the 2013 Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference.

Neary, a civil-servant historian at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., is also a member of the Air Force Art program.  "AFRC's History Office thought it would be interesting to have an Air Force artist, who is also a reservist, create the paintings of these great reserve Airmen and their stories," Neary said.

One of subjects of Neary's paintings will be Capt. Adriana Valadez, a reservist assigned to 433rd Aeromedical Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, who was acknowledged at the conference for extraordinary heroism.

Valadez was deployed with the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. While flying on mission call-signed "Bandage 33" in late March 2013, Valdez and her five-person medical team picked up an Air Force Combat Controller, Tech. Sgt. Zach Rhyner, who had been severely wounded on a battlefield in northern Afghanistan. The Airman suffered extensive wounds, including a gunshot through his leg fracturing his femur.

Rhyner's condition began to deteriorate while en route to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He began to bleed heavily and his blood pressure dropped.

Valdez contacted the aircraft commander and had the aircaft diverted to Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan. While in flight, the aircraft met with turbulence, making it difficult to keep pressure applied to the wounds. To assist better Rhyner, Valdez strapped herself to the side of his litter and continued to apply pressure to his wounds to control the bleeding until they landed.

Once the painting of the Bandage 33 mission is finished, Neary understands the original portrait may hang in the Office of the Chief of the Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon. Additional copies will tentatively hang at Headquarters AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and the 433rd Airlift Wing here.

"It is always a pleasure creating paintings of our Airmen in action serving our county. And naturally, it's a subject that I enjoy as a member of the Air Force Reserve," Neary said.

Individuals can view other artwork of Neary at the U.S Air Force Art Collection website at http://www.afapo.hq.af.mil/Presentation/main/Index.cfm.